Giants retain Aubrey Huff for two years, $22 million

There was little doubt the Giants would bring back first baseman Aubrey Huff after he played such a key role in their World Series championship season. The question was for how much and how long.

The answer came today in the form of a two-year contract, with a team option for 2013, valued in online reports at $22 million. FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi first reported the figure.

Huff, who turns 34 on Dec. 20, led the Giants with 26 homers and 86 RBI while batting .290 in a bounce-back season, after finding no other takers as a free agent following a down year in 2009. He joined the Giants for a one-year deal worth $3 million and became a steady power source in the middle of the lineup, as well as an influential clubhouse presence.

His red rally thong was one of the symbols of a season that culminated with the club's first title since moving to San Francisco in 1958. He also supplied one of the postseason's biggest hits, a two-run homer off the Rangers' Tommy Hunter in Game 4 of the World Series that put the Giants ahead to stay on the way to a 4-0 victory and a 3-1 series lead. They clinched the next day.

Huff, who finished seventh in the National League MVP race, gave the Giants flexibility by volunteering to play the outfield after rookie Buster Posey came up from the minors and initially played first base. Huff's versatility may come into play down the line if the team needs to make room for its top prospect, first baseman Brandon Belt.

After playing mostly for losing teams in his previous 10 seasons, Huff embraced the chance to be involved in a playoff chase and made it clear he wanted to return.

His deal is in keeping with the club's recent philosophy of avoiding long-term commitments. Having been burned by the mega-contract signings of left-hander Barry Zito (seven years, $126 million) and outfielder Aaron Rowand (five years, $60 million), the Giants have opted for shorter deals in recent years, even if it has meant paying a higher average cost.

Their pitching staff for next season is mostly set, but the team will have to address a hole at shortstop, which was covered last season by Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria. Both are free agents, and so is left fielder Pat Burrell, whose midseason addition boosted the lineup.

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